Checklist
- Is the speed limiter on? Settings → Downloads → Limit download speed. Turn it off or raise the value.
- Too many downloads at once? Several downloads share your bandwidth. Lower Simultaneous downloads to 1–3.
- Connections per download. Raise it (8 → 16) for servers that throttle each connection. Lower it if the server starts refusing connections.
- Test the raw speed of your line with a speed test. XDM can't exceed it.
- Try another mirror if the site offers several. Server load varies widely.
- Wi-Fi, VPN, proxy. Move closer to the router or use a cable, and test without the VPN or proxy to compare.
- Disk speed. Very fast connections can outrun slow USB sticks or network drives. Keep the temporary folder on an internal SSD.
Why a download starts fast and then slows down
Some servers allow a burst at full speed, then throttle. Others limit total speed per user. More connections help with the first kind, not the second. Then the speed you see is simply what the server allows.
Speed shows but nothing progresses
If the speed shows a value but the percentage doesn’t move, the server may be sending errors or very slowly. Pause and resume. If it repeats, see Network error.